Cortes Ecoforestry Society (CES)

PO Box 208
983 Beasley Rd.
Manson`s Landing, BC
V0P 1K0
Phone: (250) 935-6888
http://www.cortesecoforestry.org

Profile

The Cortes Ecoforestry Society, an organisation born out of and deeply rooted in the Cortes community, has developed one of Canada’s few ecosystem-based community forest plans. With this land at the heart of our work, we are striving towards healthy forests for healthy communities. For over 15 years, CES and our predecessor have wanted to see local people, make local decisions, about local lands, for local benefit.

Environmental Commitment

Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities
CES was born as a pro-active and solutions-oriented response to Cortes Island’s industrial forestry and the growing unease with its results. We are a grassroots organization representing a large proportion of the island adult population and backed by 400 members.

Working with Silva Ecosystem Consultants, CES has done extensive GIS mapping and ecosystem analysis work. Timber cutting, just one of many forest uses, will follow an ecosystem-based forest management plan that recognizes the need to protect the diversity of the forest ecosystem over time. In addition to the current abilities of Cortesians, the island community will develop new infrastructure to process, manufacture and market timber and non-timber forest products at a scale which fits the island economy. The Community Forest proposal is a continuation of the Cortes Initiative, a multi-party negotiation involving Weyerhaeuser, the Ministry of Forests, Klahoose and CES in 2000.

Social Commitment

CES is a grassroots organization representing a large proportion of the adult population of Cortes Island. Our mission is to obtain tenure over the industrial forest lands of Cortes Island for the creation of the Cortes Community Forest.

Our goal is to obtain tenure (control), in cooperation with the Klahoose First Nation, over the forest land reserve lands of Cortes (both public and corporate) for the creation of an Ecosystem-Based Community Forest. These lands represent just under 50% of the island land-base. A Community Forest will both increase local economic activity and bring an end to acrimonious struggles with “off island” interests regarding forest use.

Like communities all over BC, we want to see local people, making local decisions, about local lands.

Listing Categories

Resources > Green Living/Sustainable Living
Resources > Forestry & Silviculture
Resources > Ecosystems, Wildlife & Biodiversity

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